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Families react to Hillsborough announcements

After the exposure of the truth about the Hillsborough tragedy the time is now for accountability and responsibility, a leading campaigner has said.

Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, welcomed the announcement that the biggest-ever inquiry into police actions in the UK is to be launched in the wake of the damning report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel.

Speaking in Anfield, Liverpool, she said: "I can only repeat again what we said four weeks ago ... the truth is out there. I think the time is now for accountability.

"Accountability is the most important thing and responsibility, and also to make sure that this never ever happens again. I think that is very important, not just for the families but for the country as a whole because I think the country has been shamed by what has gone on over Hillsborough 23 years ago.

"I think it's a shame on the country, a shame on the system and a shame on the governments and I think that has got to be changed and that is a good thing that will come from this."

Mrs Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James was among the 96 who died at the FA Cup semi-final, said that she is "very happy" to learn that Sir Norman Bettison, the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, will be among police officers to face scrutiny by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

"He will be included and he is not going to be the only one," she said.

"Obviously they are going to look back at all the serving policemen on that day and I think that is a great thing to do because they were so many involved as part of that cover-up.

"Also what we must not forget is West Midlands Police, and that they are going to be investigated as well. What did they know about the cover-up?

"So I think it is very important to get this all out in the open."

Mrs Aspinall said momentum continued to be behind the families in their search for justice.